4 Reasons to Fit a Smart Lock on Your Front Door

Posted on 8 June 2017

A smart lock does the same as a regular lock: it lets you open and secure your home. However, it also comes with lots of benefits that a standard lock can’t provide, like remote locking, voice control and automatic unlocking. Smart locks use the internet and Bluetooth to make accessing your home easier and more convenient.

To give you an idea of what a smart lock can do for you, we’ve come up with 4 reasons to fit a smart lock on your front door.

1. No more fumbling for keys

One of the main reasons why lots of people install smart locks is because it means no more standing around searching for your keys. Most smart locks can be operated using your smartphone or a keyfob. Many locks don’t require you to do anything with your phone or keyfob – all you need to do is approach your door with them in your pocket or bag and the door will automatically unlock for you. So if you’re fleeing from bad weather or in a hurry, you can get indoors quickly instead of standing around outside fumbling for your keys.

Even smart locks that don’t react to proximity can still save you valuable time. Some locks respond to spoken commands, while others need you to wave your phone in front of them or press a certain button on an app. All of these are still usually faster than using a key.

2. You can lock and unlock your door remotely

Another advantage to smart locks is that they let you lock and unlock your door remotely. This can be really handy if you have a friend or relative that you want to let into your house but can’t be there personally. Some smart locks also allow you to send people limited-access digital ‘keys’. This can be really useful if you want to give someone – like a lodger or guest – temporary access to your home.

3. Lots of smart locks are compatible with other smart tools

If you’ve already embraced home smart products then a smart lock won’t hold you back. The vast majority of them are compatible with smart home systems like Nest and the Apple HomeKit. This is great if you want your home system to automatically lock your door at a certain time. You can also use a smart doorbell camera with your smart lock so you can see who is trying to get into your home.

4. You can keep your current lock

Another bonus to smart locks is that many of them allow you to keep your current lock. The new lock usually just fits on top of or next to the old one. This is great if you want to make your home smarter but aren’t quite ready to 100% commit to new technology. Keeping your current lock will mean that if your smart lock fails you’ll still be able to open your door using your old key. It’s also handy if you’re renting your home or like the look of your front door as it is.

So smart locks have several advantages and can be a really useful addition to your home. Of course, they do have their downsides. Smart locks have been known to malfunction or run out of battery, which can leave homeowners locked out of their homes. If you want a smart lock, the best thing to do is do your research so you end up with a reliable product that does what you want it to do.